It's Sunday night right now, the night before the 2017 solar eclipse. I live in an area that will get the full effect of the eclipse. We just looked out the window and saw that a neighbor (whom I have never met) has covered his windows with tape and newspaper. Is there any reason for this, e.g. for viewing the eclipse? Or this weird? I'm afraid to ask him...

It's Sunday night right now, the night before the 2017 solar eclipse. I live in an area that will get the full effect of the eclipse. We just looked out the window and saw that a neighbor (whom I have never met) has covered his windows with tape and newspaper. Is there any reason for this, e.g. for viewing the eclipse? Or this weird? I'm afraid to ask him...

He might be turning the room into a giant pinhole camera. Which would be cool.

Or he might be afraid that the Demons of Darkness will get him.

Without wishing to overstate my case, everything in the observable universe definitely has its origins in Northamptonshire -- Alan Moore

Apparently, some people assume that all the warnings about not looking at the sun during the eclipse mean that it is especially dangerous then. Whereas, of course, it is equally dangerous anytime but you are not normally inclined to stare at the sun. I read that some people go so far as to keep their pets indoors and, as in this case, cover their windows.

Without wishing to overstate my case, everything in the observable universe definitely has its origins in Northamptonshire -- Alan Moore

Apparently, some people assume that all the warnings about not looking at the sun during the eclipse mean that it is especially dangerous then. Whereas, of course, it is equally dangerous anytime but you are not normally inclined to stare at the sun. I read that some people go so far as to keep their pets indoors and, as in this case, cover their windows.

The irony is the risk were rather overblown to begin with. A glance is harmless, a long star, say 30 second at most will cause a few days of aggravation. IT would take more than 10 minutes to do any significant long term damage. All that being said, I had fun putting together one of the old fashion pin hole boxes with an 8 year old.

The irony is the risk were rather overblown to begin with. A glance is harmless, a long star, say 30 second at most will cause a few days of aggravation. IT would take more than 10 minutes to do any significant long term damage. All that being said, I had fun putting together one of the old fashion pin hole boxes with an 8 year old.